Dubai’s new legislation governing shared accommodation officially came into effect on August 26. Applying across the entire emirate, including free zones and special development zones, the comprehensive framework is designed to eliminate dangerous, overcrowded, and unauthorised partition rentals while establishing formal licensing standards for communal living.

What qualifies as shared housing?

Under the law, shared housing is defined as any residential property where individuals or families occupy private designated living spaces while sharing common facilities like kitchens, bathrooms, and dining areas.

Who is permitted to rent out shared units?

The new framework strictly bans unauthorised subletting by tenants. A primary tenant can no longer rent out individual bedrooms, partitioned spaces, or bed spaces directly to roommates or third parties.

Only the following entities can legally offer shared housing:

• Registered Property Owners: Leasing spaces directly to occupants under formal contracts. 
• Licensed Management Companies: Authorised operators contracted by the owner to run and lease the property. 
• Licensed Operators Subletting Master Leases: Approved commercial entities leasing an entire property from the owner to sublet authorised units to tenants. 

Penalties for violations

Authorities have introduced strict financial and operational consequences for non-compliance:

• Initial Fines: Dh500 up to Dh500,000, depending on the severity of the violation.
• Repeat Violations: Fines double for repeat offences committed within one year, capped at Dh1,000,000.
• Operational Sanctions: Authorities may suspend operations for up to 6 months, revoke commercial licenses, cancel permits, disconnect utilities, seize equipment, or order the direct evacuation of non-compliant properties.

Grace period & tenant protection

• Compliance deadline: Existing shared housing operators and property owners have until August 26, 2027, to obtain permits and bring their properties into full compliance. 
• Protection from sudden eviction: If an operator’s permit is suspended or cancelled, authorities can grant occupants an interim stay period to secure alternative accommodation rather than facing immediate eviction. 

Approved property/resident categories

The regulation permits shared accommodation across six distinct property types:

• Residential apartments
• Detached/standalone houses
• Residential complexes
• Mixed-use buildings
• Attached / adjoining houses
• Multi-storey buildings

Permitted occupant groups include families, single men, single women, university students, government personnel, and private sector corporate employees. Corporate and student housing provided directly by employers or educational institutions does not require individual tenancy contracts.

Dubai motorists will get a break from parking fees this Friday as public parking spaces across the emirate will be free to use for the public holiday marking the birthday of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

The free parking applies to public parking spaces across Dubai, excluding multi-level parking terminals.

Normal parking charges will resume on Saturday, August 29.

Metro and tram timings

Public transport services will operate on special schedules during the holiday.

• Dubai Metro: Red and Green Lines will run from 5am until 1am the following day.
• Dubai Tram: Services will operate from 6am until 1am the following day.
• Public buses: Passengers are advised to check the S’hail app for the latest routes and timings.

Bus route suspended temporarily

Passengers travelling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi should note that bus route E100 from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station will not operate from August 27 to August 30.

During this period, passengers are advised to use bus route E101, which operates from Ibn Battuta Bus Station to Abu Dhabi.

RTA Centres

Most RTA customer happiness centres will be closed on Friday, August 28.

However, some locations will continue to operate around the clock, including:

• Umm Ramool customer happiness centre
• Smart customer service centres in Deira
• Al Barsha
• Al Tawar
• Al Kifaf
• RTA head office

These smart centres will remain available 24/7 during the holiday.

Vehicle testing centres: What’s open?

Service provider centres for vehicle technical testing will generally be closed on Friday, with normal operations returning on Saturday.

However, several centres will remain open during the holiday:

• Al Mutakamela Al Quoz
• Al Mutakamela Al Qusais
• Aber
• Wasel Al Jaddaf

These centres will provide vehicle technical testing and registration services during the holiday, operating from 7am to 12 noon and again from 3pm to 10:30pm.

Marine transport

Marine transport services will also operate according to holiday timings. Passengers should check the RTA’s latest marine transport schedule before travelling.

What residents should know

For residents planning to drive or use public transport on August 28, the key points are simple: public parking is free, Dubai Metro and Tram will operate on extended schedules, and some RTA service and vehicle testing centres will remain open despite the holiday.

Passengers using buses, especially those travelling to Abu Dhabi, should check their route before leaving home as some services will operate differently during the holiday.

From convincing phone calls by fake bank officials to bogus shopping websites designed to steal credit card details, financial scams are growing increasingly sophisticated across the UAE.

In response, federal authorities, the Central Bank, and police forces are rolling out a multi-layered defence strategy designed to intercept fraud before it reaches consumers.

The approach focuses on three core pillars: making scams harder to execute, speeding up real-time detection, and providing direct avenues for victims to report crimes and recover losses.

Central Bank mandates

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has significantly increased compliance requirements for all licensed financial institutions, shifting the burden of fraud detection directly onto banks.

• Phasing Out SMS OTPs: The CBUAE is pushing institutions away from single-factor, SMS-based one-time passwords, favouring biometric verification and dynamic app-based authentications to combat SIM-swap and phishing attacks.
• Anti-Fraud Hub: The regulator established the Central Bank Anti-Fraud Operations Centre (CAFOC) to enable real-time threat monitoring, rapid incident response, and instant data sharing across UAE financial entities.
• Strict monitoring: Banks are legally required to maintain continuous monitoring systems to flag suspicious transactions, combat social engineering, and immediately report unauthorised activities.

Safety for online shoppers

With cybercriminals increasingly targeting online shoppers, the UAE’s consumer protection framework now treats digital storefronts with the same legal scrutiny as physical retail.

• E-Commerce Regulations: Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2023 sets clear technical standards, legal liabilities, and data protection rules for digital trading platforms operating in the country.
• Tougher Anti-Counterfeit Penalties: Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2023 on Combating Commercial Fraud equips authorities to crack down on fraudulent sellers, corrupt goods, and misleading online commercial practices.
• Statutory Rights: Federal Law No. 15 of 2020 guarantees data privacy, fair dispute settlement, and monetary compensation for consumers facing fraudulent domestic transactions.

Where residents can report scams 

Authorities urge residents never to absorb financial losses quietly. Several official channels provide dispute resolution and criminal reporting:

• Ministry of Economy and Tourism: Handles formal consumer disputes, misleading sales complaints, and requests for product recalls, facilitating amicable settlements or judicial referrals.
• Dubai Police e-Crime Platform: Provides a dedicated portal for reporting cybercrime, identity theft, and electronic banking fraud.
• Local Consumer Protection Departments: Each emirate maintains direct channels to investigate deceptive trade practices and unauthorised merchant activity.

Scam warning: Dubai Police recently warned against fraudulent Consumer Protection websites that lure users into downloading remote-access apps, allowing criminals to hijack devices and drain linked bank accounts.

Do’s and Don’ts to keep your accounts safe

While state-level defences continue to tighten, personal vigilance remains essential:

1. Don’t share details: No bank or government entity will ever ask for your password, PIN, or multi-factor authentication code via phone, email, or WhatsApp.
2. Don’t give remote access: Never download third-party software (such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer) at the request of an unsolicited caller.
3. Do URL check: Check domain spellings carefully and ensure e-commerce platforms use verified, secure payment gateways before entering card numbers.
4. Don’t wait, act immediately: If you suspect compromised details or notice an unauthorised charge, freeze your card via your banking app and notify your bank’s fraud unit without delay.